Article 1: TIPS TO HELP REDUCE SUMMER ENERGY BILLS
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is offering tips and resources to help its customers reduce energy bill spikes that could occur due to hot weather and an increase in working from home and homeschooling during the pandemic.
If you’d like to lower your energy use and bills this summer, here are a few tips you can consider.
- If you are on a Time-of-Use (TOU) pricing plan, shift some of your energy use to lower-cost hours outside of the 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. peak period. If you don’t know which pricing plan you’re on, visit sdge.com/myaccount.
- When streaming content, choose the smallest device that makes sense for the number of people watching.
- Turn down the thermostat on your water heater a few degrees because gas or electricity are needed to heat your water.
- Make sure you check your AC filter every 1-2 months. Dirty filters cause your system to work harder to keep you cool, wasting energy.
- Get more energy-saving tips at sdge.com/summer.
SDG&E has payment assistance programs that can help residents save on their monthly bills. These programs are available to those who meet income eligibility criteria and include; the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program, the Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) and LIHEAP, the federally funded Low-Income Energy Assistance Program. More information is available at sdge.com/assistance. Customers who are concerned about higher summer bills can enroll in a Level Pay Plan to smooth out the monthly cost fluctuations. Learn more at sdge.com/LPP. If you need more time to pay your bill, Call SDG&E’s Customer Contact Center at 1-(800)411-7343 to make payment arrangements.
Article 1 (translated): CONSEJOS Y RECURSOS PARA AYUDAR A REDUCIR LAS FACTURAS DE ENERGÍA DE VERANO
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) está ofreciendo consejos y recursos para ayudar a sus clientes a reducir los picos de facturas de energía que podrían ocurrir debido al clima caluroso y un aumento en el teletrabajo y la educación en casa debido a la pandemia.
Si desea reducir su consumo de energía y facturas este verano, aquí hay algunos consejos que puede considerar.
- Si está inscrito en un plan tarifario del Horario de Uso (TOU, por sus siglas en inglés), cambie parte de su consumo de energía a horas de menor costo fuera del periodo pico de 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. Si no sabe en qué plan tarifario esta, visite sdge.com/myaccount.
- Al transmitir contenido, elija el dispositivo más pequeño que tenga sentido para el número de personas que lo ven.
- Baje el termostato de su calentador de agua unos grados porque se necesita gas o electricidad para calentar el agua.
- Asegúrese de revisar su filtro de aire acondicionado cada 1-2 meses. Los filtros sucios hacen que el sistema trabaje más duro para mantenerlo fresco y desperdiciar energía.
- Obtenga más consejos para ahorrar energía en sdge.com/summer.
SDG&E tiene programas de asistencia de pago que pueden ayudar a los residentes a ahorrar en sus facturas mensuales. Estos programas están disponibles para aquellos que cumplen con los criterios de elegibilidad según sus ingresos e incluyen; el Programa de Tarifas Alternas para Energía en California (CARE, por sus siglas en inglés), el Programa Familiar de Reducción de Tarifas Eléctricas (FERA, por sus siglas en inglés) y LIHEAP, el Programa de Asistencia a Hogares de Escasos Recursos para Gastos de Energía financiado por el gobierno federal. Puede obtener más información en sdge.com/assistance. Los clientes que están preocupados por las facturas de verano más altas pueden inscribirse en el Plan de Pago Nivelado para suavizar las fluctuaciones de costos mensuales. Obtenga más información en sdge.com/LPP. Si necesita más tiempo para pagar su factura, llame al Centro de Atención al Cliente de SDG&E al 1-(800)411-7343 para hacer arreglos de pago.
Article 2: Call 811 Before You Dig to Prevent Damage to Underground Utility Lines
With more people staying home due to the pandemic, home renovations and gardening activities have been on the rise. And while working on projects can be exciting, SDG&E would like to remind their customers to always call 811 before they dig. This will help prevent gas line strikes that can result from unsafe digging from construction and landscaping activities. In the last year, unsafe digging resulted in almost 350 local gas emergencies. SDG&E prioritizes the safety of its customers and community and have made it a goal to reduce the number of these incidents.
Hitting a gas or electric line can result in a serious safety hazard, fires, property damage, loss of utility service, costly repairs and fines. They can also create inconveniences to the public such as service outages for an entire neighborhood. That’s why starting July 1, 2020, the new California Underground Facilities Safe Excavation Board (Dig Safe Board) will start fining those who don’t call 811 before they dig. These fees can go up to $50,000 and/or require contractors/excavators who hit utility lines to take training classes. Submitting a request to have underground utility lines marked is easy. Simply call 811 or visit DigAlert.org. Requests should be submitted at least two business days before digging and will be followed by SDG&E marking the location of buried gas and electric lines free of charge. If you ever hit your gas or electric service lines or meters, whether it’s minor or more serious, call SDG&E immediately at (800) 411-7343. No damage to gas or electric lines is too small to report. For more information, visit sdge.com/811 and learn how to detect gas leaks in your home, check out this video: youtu.be/cwL9r4dLZ3A.
Article 3: CALIFORNIA CLIMATE CREDIT HEADED YOUR WAY
Your August1 SDG&E bill will include a statewide electric California Climate Credit. It’s part of California’s effort to fight climate change and work toward a zero-carbon state. The credit comes from a state program that requires power plants, natural gas providers and other large industries that emit greenhouse gasses to buy carbon pollution permits. The credit on your bill is your share of the payments from the state’s program.
In past years, the electric credit was applied in April and October and the gas credit was applied in April. For 2020 and 2021 the California Public Utilities Commission has authorized a temporary shift of the electric portion of the credit to be applied to the months of August and September to provide some bill relief during the hottest months of the year and help reduce bill volatility.
To learn more about the Climate Credit and find out the dollar amount, visit cpuc.ca.gov/climatecredit.
1 Billing periods vary by utility and may not always coincide with a calendar month. If you don’t see a Climate Credit in the bill that arrives this month, it will appear in the bill you receive next month.
Article 4: SDG&E 2ND ANNUAL WILDFIRE SAFETY FAIR
Fire season is around the corner and SDG&E wants you and your loved ones to remain safe. Learn what you can do to protect your family and property and become more resilient against wildfires. At SDG&E’s Wildfire Resilience Drive-Thru Safety Fair, you’ll receive safety tips and information on how to stock an emergency kit, develop an emergency plan and design or modify the space around your home to help resist wildfire. You’ll also learn about SDG&E’s Generator Grant Program and Public Safety Power Shutoffs. SDG&E’s Meteorology and Fire Science & Climate Adaption team will be on hand to discuss what SDG&E is continually doing to keep the region safe.
Preparedness backpacks and buckets will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last. One backpack per car. Admission is free and includes displays, music, fresh kettle corn and drinks – all from the comfort of your car. Don’t miss out on this important event! Learn more at sdge.com/fairs.
Drive-thru dates and locations:
Bates Nut Farm, parking lot
15954 Woods Valley Rd, Valley Center CA 92082
Saturday, Aug. 22 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Mountain Empire High School, student parking lot
3305 Buckman Springs Rd, Pine Valley CA 91962
Saturday, Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Viejas Casino, east end of parking lot past casino
5000 Willows Rd, Alpine CA 91901
Saturday, Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Article 5: ENROLL IN SDGE’S NO-COST ENERGY WEBINARS
SDG&E hosts no-cost energy webinars to its customers. Learn about energy-saving upgrades and investments, whole house energy projects, using solar with an energy storage system (battery) and more. Sign up at seminars.sdge.com.